Scanner
A scanner includes a sensor rack carrying a sensor, and a guide rod adapted to guide reciprocating movement of the sensor rack, the sensor rack having a guide frame disposed at a bottom side thereof in contact with the guide rod, the guide frame having a double-bevel bottom sidewall formed of two bevel surfaces, which are respectively disposed in contact with the guide rod.
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The present invention relates to scanners and, more particularly, to a dual fulcrum scanner, which is easy to install and, produces less friction force during installation.
The scanner is a standard attachment to a computer system for scanning text data as well as graphic data into the computer. A scanner uses a light source to project light onto document, and sensor means to pick up the image from reflected light. Scanned image data can be modified by an image processing program. If scanned data is a printed matter, it can be converted into a file and stored in the computer by means of the application of “character recognition software”.
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a scanner, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide a scanner, which enables the bottom guide frame of the sensor rack to be directly put on the guide rod during installation, so that the installation procedure is simplified, and the installation cost is greatly reduced. It is another object of the present invention to provide a scanner, which guides the guide frame of the sensor rack in contact with the guide rod at two points of contact, so that the friction resistance between the guide frame and the guide rod is minimized. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a scanner, which has the guide injection-molded on the bottom frame to minimize the manufacturing cost. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the scanner comprises a sensor rack, a sensor mounted on the sensor rack, and a guide rod adapted to guide reciprocating movement of the sensor rack. The sensor rack has a guide frame disposed at the bottom side in contact with the guide rod. The guide frame has a double-bevel bottom sidewall formed of two bevel surfaces, which are respectively disposed in contact with the guide rod.
Referring to
As stated above, the guide frame 12 is provided at the bottom side of the sensor rack 10 and directly put on the guide rod 14. This installation procedure is simple. After installation of the sensor rack 10, the two bevel surfaces 121;122 are disposed in contact with the guide rod 14 at a respective contact point. The limited contact area (two contact points) between the bevel surfaces 121;122 of the guide frame 12 and the guide rod 14 causes less friction resistance during movement of the sensor rack 10 on the guide rod 14.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A scanner comprising:
- a sensor rack having a guide frame at a bottom side thereof, said guide frame having a double-bevel bottom sidewall formed of two bevel surfaces;
- a sensor mounted on said sensor rack; and
- a guide rod fixedly provided below said sensor rack and disposed in contact with each of the bevel surfaces of said guide frame.
2. The scanner of claim 1 wherein said sensor rack further comprises a belt clamp disposed at the bottom side and fastened to a belt to be driven to move said sensor rack along said guide rod.
3. The scanner of claim 1 wherein the bevel surfaces of said guide frame each have a respective raised portion respectively disposed in contact with said guide rod.
4. The scanner of claim 1 further comprising spring means provided between a bottom side of said sensor and said sensor rack.
5. The scanner of claim 4 further comprising a glass provided above said sensor, and at least one slide fixedly provided at a top side of said sensor and forced into contact with said glass by said spring means.
6. The scanner of claim 1 wherein said guide rod is injection-molded on a bottom frame of the scanner.
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 10, 2001
Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20030030851
Assignee: Teco Image Systems Co., Ltd. (Taipei)
Inventor: Pen-Jung Lee (Tao Yuan Hsien)
Primary Examiner: Cheukfan Lee
Attorney: Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
Application Number: 09/925,492